Articles Tagged With: HIPAA
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Video Recording Raises Risk, Requires Policy Consideration
Video recording has been problematic in healthcare for decades, ever since the home video camera became common. With the proliferation of smartphones and remote video monitoring, hospitals and health systems are facing a new wave of questions and potential risks from video recording in patient care settings.
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Hospital EDs May See Legal Issues After Abortion Ruling
The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, sending the issue of abortion rights back to the states, could lead to difficult legal situations for some EDs. Risk managers should consider their state laws and plan for potential issues. One of the first issues to consider is how laws restricting abortion intersect with EMTALA.
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Tracking Tool on Hospital Websites Can Lead to HIPAA Breaches
Many hospital websites include a tracking tool that collects protected health information and sends it to Facebook, posing the risk of major HIPAA breaches. In some cases, the hospital leadership has no idea such a tracking tool is on their website. The tracker automatically sends Facebook a packet of data when a consumer schedules a doctor’s appointment on the website.
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OCR Releases Guidance on Audio-Only Telehealth
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently issued guidance on how covered entities can use audio-only telehealth services in compliance with HIPAA. In line with what is referred to as the common carrier exception, OCR clarified the Security Rule does not apply to audio-only telehealth services provided by a covered entity that is using a standard landline.
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Biden Signs Executive Order Protecting Reproductive Rights
Action aims to protect access to healthcare services, patient privacy.
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More Consumers Suing After Healthcare Data Breaches
Consumers are suing companies more often for data breaches that expose their private information, according to one law firm’s experience. Healthcare organizations are seeing the biggest increases in this type of litigation.
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Develop Good Working Relationship with Counsel for Best Results
Risk managers often work closely with either in-house counsel or outside attorneys representing the hospital or health system in a range of legal matters, but those interactions can go awry without a good working relationship. Establishing boundaries and proper expectations can go a long way toward achieving the best results. -
What Can OB/GYNs Do to Protect Patients — and Themselves?
Faced with new and unprecedented laws banning abortion, physicians need to learn all they can about their states’ laws. -
OCR Researching How Covered Entities Implement Security Practices
OCR recently released a request for information soliciting public comment on how regulated entities are voluntarily implementing security practices under the HITECH Act. It also is seeking public input on sharing funds collected through enforcement with individuals who are harmed via HIPAA violations. -
Breach Report Reveals 61% Increase in Breaches Affecting 500+
OCR recently submitted a report to Congress setting forth the HIPAA breaches and complaints reported in 2020 as well as the enforcement actions taken by OCR. For 2020, OCR reported 656 notifications of breaches affecting 500 or more individuals, 66,509 notifications of breaches affecting fewer than 500 individuals, and 27,182 complaints alleging violations of HIPAA and the HITECH Act.